Mexico Beach

I love to scallop and eat seafood in that area. It is beautiful and unique in it's own way.....but can't compete with our beaches!!!

Lennons right i went to mexico beach and cape san blas last year on a 2 day journey expecting another grayton beach and was sorely disappointed. The beaches are nice but can't touch 30'a beaches as the waters not near as clear nor is the sand as nice. The town of mexico beach reminds me of panama city before the high rises in it being older structures and not 1-50th as nice as 30'a. Pt blank theres not many beaches in the world that can touch some of the areas like grayton.

the beaches at Mexico beach cannot compare to grayton, seaside, destin, etc. Also, there's nothing there!

We are headed back to Seagrove in August but are considering another trip to maybe Mexico Beach in June. Just curious if the beaches & water in Mexico Beach are as nice as Seagrove, Grayton, etc...

It appears Mexico Beach is less commercialized which is great but just curious about the beach & water since that is the kids favorite place to hang out. Snorkeling & hunting shells. I also understand no one can predict the weather so you get what you get during the week your there. (unless youve been blessed by being able to live there 365).

Thanks for your help!

I agree that the water and sand in Mexico Beach are not as pretty as ours. Same for Cape San Blas; however, Cape San Blas is very pretty in its own right. This little peninsula between the bay and the gulf has a state park at its point. The state park is very pretty with walking trails that meander along the bay. When I was there, the water in the bay was gorgeous and calm with beautiful color and clarity. There were quite a few kayakers in the water. It looks like a beautiful place to kayak on a calm day.

Another area in close proximity to Mexico Beach is Apalachicola and St George Island. The sand on St George Island is not as fine and white as that in South Walton, but there seem to be many more shells on the beach and the beach is dog friendly too! The water is not as pretty and clear as it is here either. I think maybe it has something to do with the proximity to the Apalachicola River. But that proximity to Apalachicola makes for great oysters!

I've spent a lot of time around Mexico Beach visiting family. The sand is soft and squeaky white but the water is not the same clarity and color. The upside is shelling. Lots of great shells. Great pier also, but the atmosphere is very different than Rosemary, Seaside, WaterColor, etc... Toucan's is not a 4-star establishment.

If you go, check out the state park on Cape San Blas. St. Joe Bay is a treasure.

I love Mexico Beach. I have been off and on there since I was a child and I have alot of friends and family that live there. The beaches are not as white and the area is not a *uppity* as Rosemary and Seaside, but it is a great quaint little place in its own right. I love the way the beaches are there and it is more protected by the pennisula so you don't really get as many riptides and the shells are easier to find and the sand bar is loaded with them.
Don't let Toucans spoil the bunch, there are tons of great little places there and there is an awesome little bar in Post St. Joe right on the docks that is a great place to eat oysters and drink beer and watch the boats come in.
Also, I have some very nice memories of Cape San Blas and the beaches there are amazing. Appalachicola is so much fun during the seafood festival amoung the tall trees with spanish moss hanging down.

I spent my childhood Summer's at Mexico Beach... it hasn't changed all that much in the past 30 years!

As others have already said, the sand and water color (and clarity) are no match for SoWal. The one plus that Mexico Beach does have is the undertow and absence of riptides that are sometimes present in SoWal. Cape San Blas extends to the Eastern edge of Mexico Beach, straight across from the Mexico Beach / Beacon Hill (Bay Co. / Gulf Co.) line (it's also the beginning of the Central Time Zone). The cape evidently has the benefit of lessening the riptide / undertow.

It's a totally different experience than SoWal but has its merits.

My hubby and I took a day trip to Mexico Beach/Cape San Blas, etc. from Sowal a couple years aga, just to see what it was like. We both kept agreeing that we couldn't get back to Sowal fast enough. Not that it was bad, it just wasn't for us. The homes are built on stilts, which is a look I think you can get in just about any beach town. It's not nearly as unique as Sowal. And the water/beaches aren't nearly as nice. Just a completely different feel...seemed kinda like a vibe you could get anywhere else BUT Sowal. Just my two cents.

My hubby and I took a day trip to Mexico Beach/Cape San Blas, etc. from Sowal a couple years aga, just to see what it was like. We both kept agreeing that we couldn't get back to Sowal fast enough. Not that it was bad, it just wasn't for us. The homes are built on stilts, which is a look I think you can get in just about any beach town. It's not nearly as unique as Sowal. And the water/beaches aren't nearly as nice. Just a completely different feel...seemed kinda like a vibe you could get anywhere else BUT Sowal. Just my two cents.

You will have to excuse me if I take offense to those of you snubbing where most of my family is from, but no, it is NOT Alys Beach and it is NOT Rosemary and it is NOT Seaside, thank god. I think it is perfect just the way it is. So PLEASE, if you feel you are too good to step on the soil of Mexico Beach and St. Joe and Cape San Blas, then please DO NOT and that way your attitude will be sure not to spoil some of the unspoiled places left along the coast.

As I recall, Dr Beach declared Cape San Blas as the #1 beach in the US in 2002...and all the tourist centers, developers (especially JOE), and realtors from there to Destin were using that as their main marketing catchphrase in their sales pitches and glossy brochures... What's up with that? Now that there's no money to be made has it reverted to a swamp?

http://goflorida.about.com/cs/floridabeaches/a/beach_top2002.htm

.

I've been that way a couple of times on a day trip from FWB. I thought Mexico Beach was pretty cool, along with CSB, SGI, and Apalachicola. To me, it DOES seem like what the "Old Florida" of my imagination would have been like. It does have a different feel than SoWal, but I don't think they're trying to be like SoWal. CSB is definitely an area I would like to stay and explore someday.

I enjoy the laid back feeling of Mexico Beach. Yes, it is not SoWal, but why should it be? There is a nice small town feel there. The beach access is easy and the pier is fun as well. My avatar photo is from Mexico Beach.

I enjoy the laid back feeling of Mexico Beach. Yes, it is not SoWal, but why should it be? There is a nice small town feel there. The beach access is easy and the pier is fun as well. My avatar photo is from Mexico Beach.

If I want to take a day trip from SoWal sometime, how long does it take to get there (and how do we get there) and where is the best shelling. We love shelling and wish we had more in SoWal (there were plenty of shells after hurricane Ivan but I think the sandbars keep them from coming to shore on SoWal Beaches today). Thanks.

The thread was started because someone specifically wanted a comparison between Sowal and Mexico Beach. People weren't saying they were too good for Mexico Beach, they were giving a comparison and I didn't notice any rude or disparaging comments.

The drive is about an hour. 98 East from 30A passes through Panama City Beach, Panama City, Parker, another small place or two knitted to PC, Tyndall Air Force Base and into Mexico Beach, where it runs along the beach. Shelling all along there and toward St. Joe Bay should be good.

Great shelling is out on Cape San Blas, which is the peninsula creating St. Joe Bay and visible across the gulf from Mexico Beach. It is another 25 miles out to the state park (down another Hwy 30A). Worth the drive while you're there.

My avitar photo is from St. Joe Bay.

I enjoy the laid back feeling of Mexico Beach. Yes, it is not SoWal, but why should it be? There is a nice small town feel there. The beach access is easy and the pier is fun as well. My avatar photo is from Mexico Beach.

I agree. My husband and I have driven over to Mexico Beach a couple of times from PC Beach, they still have the mom and pop type hotels there and it is not very crowded. I thought their beaches looked very nice and the times we saw their water it appeared to me to be the same emerald color. However, I do agree that they do not have near the things to do as I don't think they have guided waverunner tours and such, nor do they have the beach stores as PC Beach does, nor the restaurants Sowal and PC Beach have.

However, I love the homes built on stilts. Reminds me of my growing up days of going to Long Beach, NC and staying in a beach house on stilts. I could easily stay in Mexico Beach. We would just have to go to PC Beach for our entertainment. I wasn't aware they had a pier though but would go out on it.

I cannot wait until my vacation the end of August.

The thread was started because someone specifically wanted a comparison between Sowal and Mexico Beach. People weren't saying they were too good for Mexico Beach, they were giving a comparison and I didn't notice any rude or disparaging comments.

Thanks for your reply Scooter. I think we were all just giving an opinion without being disparaging...but seems someone else WAS being disparaging about Alys Beach, Rosemary, etc.

The drive is about an hour. 98 East from 30A passes through Panama City Beach, Panama City, Parker, another small place or two knitted to PC, Tyndall Air Force Base and into Mexico Beach, where it runs along the beach. Shelling all along there and toward St. Joe Bay should be good.

Great shelling is out on Cape San Blas, which is the peninsula creating St. Joe Bay and visible across the gulf from Mexico Beach. It is another 25 miles out to the state park (down another Hwy 30A). Worth the drive while you're there.

Thanks and this is very helpful.

Here are a few photos from there. It gives me a small beach town feeling. Reminds me a bit of the Jersey Shore.

Love these pics.

I spent a week by myself last May just exploring St. Joe, Appalachicola, St George, and the great Cape San Blas. The shelling was magnificent and the peacefulness was exactly what the doctor ordered. I think the Panhandle with all of its great beaches, towns, hole-in-the walls, has everything to offer anyone that is craving a specific experience.

I spent a week by myself last May just exploring St. Joe, Appalachicola, St George, and the great Cape San Blas. The shelling was magnificent and the peacefulness was exactly what the doctor ordered. I think the Panhandle with all of its great beaches, towns, hole-in-the walls, has everything to offer anyone that is craving a specific experience.

I am amazed that people can biatch and moan about the beauty of any of this coastline. I have never taken this trip east, but I really want to!

Oh, and welcome wallace! You live jsut north of me! Where ya' going?

I am amazed that people can biatch and moan about the beauty of any of this coastline. I have never taken this trip east, but I really want to!

Oh, and welcome wallace! You live jsut north of me! Where ya' going?

Do so. It is a great day drive to Appalachicola.

I am amazed that people can biatch and moan about the beauty of any of this coastline. I have never taken this trip east, but I really want to!

Oh, and welcome wallace! You live jsut north of me! Where ya' going?

So true. All the many differences make our coast so special. Road trip!!